Limerick boss TJ Ryan has backed his players to stand up to Kilkenny in all facets in this Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

At their peak, Kilkenny have been celebrated for their ability to mix it with opponents any way they wanted, particularly in the physical stakes.

However, with a side packed with towering figures, Limerick shouldn’t be found wanting in that department - and others, Ryan claims.

“I’d back our team in battles all over the pitch whether it’s physicality, hurling, pace,” he says. “This team has been around the block a while, the experience of last year will stand to them.

“I thought we’ve hurled really well in all the games we’ve played this year in Championship. I think we’re on an upward curve here.

“At the same time, I fully understand we’re playing a team that’s been the best team over the last decade without a doubt. Best manager. Some of the best players that ever hurled. Under no illusions there.”

However, it’s put to Ryan that with Kilkenny perhaps not quite as formidable as they once were and Limerick improving year on year that this weekend’s game is more a battle of equals comp-ared to their other three SHC meetings in the last decade.

“That’s got to wait to be seen. Maybe, but if you take last year out of Kilkenny’s form it’s impeccable. This year they’ve been very good. They won the Leinster final. Beat the Leinster champions comfortably enough, back in the semi-final. Back to their old usual tricks.”

When Limerick played Kilkenny in the past, there didn’t appear to be a firmly held belief that they could beat them and while the level of hoopla on Shannonside is far removed to that which surrounded the build up to last year’s semi-final loss to Clare, there is a more genuine confidence that they could turn them over this time.

“I don’t really look back too much. We’re trying to create our own history. This is a different team, a different entity.

“I see what you’re saying maybe in terms of belief, and maybe Kilkenny had that bit of awe about them.

“This is a little bit different from our point of view. We believe this is a team going places. This is a team that has got a lot of things to prove to a lot of different people.

“Kilkenny are still 4/9 in the bookies.”

Although they didn’t raise a green flag in their comprehensive Leinster final defeat of Dublin, preventing Kilkenny the oxygen they get from scoring goals will be key for Limerick on Sunday.

Ryan added: “Kilkenny are absolute masters at doing that and trying to get fellas free.

“I’d say that if the eight of us here sat down to pick Kilkenny’s six forwards that would start none of the eight of might get it right so they have an awful lot of options.”